Was the ONS right to release 'jobs for immigrants' statistics?

Kevyn Bodman

Of course the ONS was right to release the statistics.
And I'd go further than Keith Vaz, and further than you.

There is no need at all for statistics to be either relevant or very clear.There is only a need for them to be accurate.

And it does not matter whether there is public hunger for statistics or complete public apathy for them.
They should still be released.

There might be national securiy exceptions, but in that case Oppositon politicians should be briefed on Privy Council terms.

There is no justification at all for supressing information that is politically awkward for politicians.

Chuck Unsworth

What does the oleaginous Vaz mean by 'relevant'? Relevant to whom and what, exactly?

And if they are not, in his view, 'relevant', is he suggesting that they should not see the light of day? Who pays for these statistics?

MartSharm

Vaz's comments are honest and revealing.

"Not helpful" to release the figures on the same day as unemployment figures - not helpful for whom? I welcome them, clearly Vaz would have preferred a good day to bury bad news.

"Always accompanied by a detailed explanation" - in other words, spin spin spin. I am old and wise enough to take my own conclusions when presented with data, thanks Keith. Most people are. Sorry if my conclusions are not favourable to you.

And he seems to say the definition of "British worker" is actually what most normal people would call "EU worker". So everyone in the EU is now a British worker? According to Vaz, that's true.

Thanks for being so candid, Keith. I appreciate it.

Pete Hoskin

Kevyn Bodman: I didn't say I agreed with Vaz's criteria, I just said I think yesterday's release happens to meet them...

Publius

I think "not helpful" is the sly little term that politicians use in such circumstances.

Wily Trout

Wait for the witch-hunt against Karen Dunnel to start - has she been 'discovered' to have racist sympathies yet?

Kevyn Bodman

Pete Hoskin:
That's right.
But it was you who implied that the level of current interest in the matter has a bearing on whether or not statistics should be released.
I stand by my assertion that the level of current interest doesn't matter.
What say you?

Pete Hoskin

Kevyn: I think you're creating a false dichotomy between what you and I have written. Truth is, I agree that the ONS *should* release all the statistics it collects, regardless of public interest, topicality or relevance. Nothing I wrote in my original post precludes that opinion.

But the fact remains that the ONS *doesn't* release all of the statistics it collects. In this case, public interest, topicality and relevance seem to have - rightly or wrongly - played a part in it releasing some stats that it didn't previously. I'm glad the ONS didn't ignore that interest, and think it would have been remiss of them to do so.

Jonny Mac

Vaz's article gets worse. For an analysis see http://jonnymacsplace.blogspot.com/2009/02/lies-damned-lies-and-keith-vaz.html

D K McGREGOR

Vaz always has been and always will be part of the problem. He operates undercover within the Labour Party who can't see his real agenda , and Moslem victimhood. As his record proves he is only interested in his own enrichment.
How do we end up with people like him in charge of us?

Verity

I didn't even know that that fat tub of ghee was still oozing around the halls of government.

What is he for exactly? Why is he still in our faces? Is he part of some quota? He single-handedly fulfills the requirement for stupid, fat, venal people? (I thought that was Jacqui Smith's remit.)

James J

If the term “Democracy” is to have any sensible meaning then the electorate need to be given information in order to judge whether the politicians they elect are carrying out the policies they were elected on.
If the only information the electorate are allowed to know is selected on the basis it shows the ruling party in a good light then we need to use another term.

Diversity

Mr Vaz's public speeches and writing are replete with excellent examples of how not to reason. No other element in them appears to be consistent.

Thomas Cussans

Minister are 'fizzing with anger' because the truth has been told.

How very New Labour.

Incidentally, it is an invariable rule of thumb that anything the unutterably slimy Keith Vaz says should be ignored. He is self-importance personified.

Aless

"relevant" means "supporting the Labour party" obviously.

Vaz needs to sort out his priorities

Archie

Oh dear! Boris Johnson seems to be coming under fire for his expletive-ridden "private" telephone call to Vaz. Actually, I am of the opinion that several more four letter words could be attached to the ghastly creep!
D.K. McGregor: "We" end up with people like him because he is elected by his "community"!